Part 4
The three ladies washed their bodies in the large bath and were finally able to relax and loosen up in the water.
It seems the ceiling of the bath-house was the same as Little Garden's, the night sky full of stars could be seen through the transparent ceiling.
Kuro Usagi was facing upwards stretching her body with her arms in the air, reflecting on the past day's events.
"This was certainly a long day. I have never expected that summoning new allies would be so troublesome."
"Would that be a complaint towards us?"
"Th-That wasn't my intention at all!"
Kuro Usagi was denying it vehemently, creating waves in the bath-water. Next to her Yō was soaking in the water with an absent minded expression on her face. With that same expression she murmured.
"This bath-water ... it smells like we're in the woods, really relaxing. Calico cat should just enter too."
"Indeed. We use the water that comes directly from the Water Tree, Calico cat-san would enjoy it for sure. It's clean water so no problem even if you were to drink some."
"Yeah. .... That reminds me, Kuro Usagi can also understand Calico cat?"
"Yes♪ With the Judge Master privilege Kuro Usagi can communicate with most species save for the most special ones."
Yō answered with an 'I see'. Her looking a bit happy was probably not a figment of ones' imagination.
Asuka put her long and silky hair in order, and mumbled in a dreamy state of mind.
"Feels a bit like an onsen. I like it, this kind of bath."
She lifted her right arm up and stroked it with the left. Just by doing that it looked like her skin became more beautiful.
"A tree that produces water ... is that also something called a Gift?"
"Yes. Gifts can be transformed into many different shapes, and by embedding it within a life form they can exhibit their power. This Water Tree Gift was born by the combination of a Sacred Tree with high spiritual power and the Blessing of the Water God. It would've probably manifested as a Gift with the power to control water if it was embedded in a living being."
"To control water? Not creating it?"
"It wouldn't be impossible, but it would be difficult creating purified water like the Sacred Tree does. Also the Water Tree does not create water out of nothing, the correct way to put it would be that it absorbs the moisture from the atmosphere through its leaves and increases its volume. Creating tangible matter out of nothing is something only someone on the level of Shiroyasha-sama or a Dragon would be able to."
Asuka answered with an absentminded 'I see'.
Watching the sky full of stars she muttered.
"Dragon, huh ... was that obtained through a Gift Game also? What is a dragon's Game like?"
"Tha-That I unfortunately don't know. When Kuro Usagi joined the Community it was already placed on top of the pedestal."
"Oh, that is a shame. I wanted to use it as a reference for tomorrow's Game."
Kuro Usagi laughed at Asuka's words, calling her anxiety unnecessary.
"No way! Preparing a Game that extravagant would be impossible for [Fores Garo]. The continued existence of their Community is riding on this Game, it will probably be about their prefered subject, which is 'Strength', it shouldn't pose any problems for you. No need to worry as long as it's not something that relies heavily on luck."
Asuka asked back immediately with an unpleasant expression.
"Are there Games that are based purely on luck?"
"Yes! Gift Games are a type of game after all. There are many Gift Games that only test one's luck. Games based on the roll of a dice are a good example."
"I-I see."
Asuka had a perplexed expression. A Community's continued existence depended on that Game, but Asuka didn't want it to be decided purely by luck. That kind of duel would be undignified.
"Gift Game ... huh. I thought everything is well as long as we enjoy ourselves, but ... . If we think about the Community we cannot be reckless. What do you think, Kasukabe-san?"
Asuka turned the topic over to Yō. She was quietly soaking in the bath-water so far, but she promptly answered the unforeseen question.
"I think it's all good if we win. If we win we will have fun and the Community will also be happy. Two birds with one stone."
"Yō-san is right! Enjoying the Games is a requirement for being a top-class Player."
"I am happy you say that."
Asuka was now regretting not asking for anything as a prize for their Game with [Fores Garo]. It was a winnable contest. She should've said something like 'Bet your full fortune on this!'.
Kuro Usagi inched closer to them changing the topic.
"By the way, by the way you two. We are having a 'naked communion' here, so if it's not a problem would you tell Kuro Usagi more about yourselves? About your hobbies, where you came from and the like."
"Oh, why are you interested in those?"
"That is of course out of curiosity! You are my long awaited fellow girls, Kuro Usagi is very interested in both of you♪"
Kuro Usagi asked with a joyous expression. Her words were without hidden meaning or ill intent, but the other two had a reluctant expression. In the letter they received it was written like this: 'Cast aside your family, your friends, your fortune, your whole world and come to Little Garden.'
They didn't want to reminiscence about those things they left behind.
"But, oh well. We are comrades living together from now on. I do not mind as long as you do not pry too much."
"I don't really want to talk about it. But, I do want to ask. I'm curious about Kuro Usagi. The way your hair color changes to the color of cherry blossom, it's kinda cool."
"Ayaya, is Kuro Usagi cool?"
"I was also wondering about that. Then how about we call this an exchange of information?"
The three girls were chatting for quite a bit after that, soaking in the hot bath-water.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login